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"Baby Killer"

Exclusive by Dhruti Shah

Harrow Observer 3 May 2007

SHOCKING figures have revealed that more babies in Harrow die before reaching their first birthday than anywhere else in London - and this clinical waste incinerator in Slough could be the reason why.

The Observer has been given access to research due to be published in two weeks which links emissions from the incinerator in Colnbrook with Harrow's worryingly high infant mortality rate.

Between 2003-2005, 122 of the borough's infants died before the age of one. Most of these babies were from the Harrow Weald area, which has the worst infant mortality rate in the capital.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the Office of National Statistics show that during these dates the mortality rate in this particular ward, was a staggering 19.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. In some boroughs in south London no babies die before their first birth day.

Dr Dick Van Steenis and civil engineer Michael Ryan, who are behind the research document, claim finite particles emitted by the incinerator are being swept across the borough via wind and planes taking off from Heathrow, polluting residents, especially mothers-to-be and resulting in more infant deaths.

Dr Van Steenis said: "Pregnant mothers breathe in the particles. These then go into the placenta and affect the children. These increases heart and lung problems, especially in children whose immune systems are not yet fully developed."

Grundon, the incinerator's owner, denies the accusations, pointing out that it meets all environmental protection regulations.

HARROW'S MPs have vowed to investigate following relevations that more babies die in Harrow than anywhere else in the capital.

Shocking figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show the borough's infant mortality rates are dangerously high and in the case of Harrow Weald, are the worst in London. Between 2003-2005, five out of Harrow's 21 electoral wards, including Harrow Weald, Pinner and Queensbury, had infant mortality rates of more than 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

There is only one ward - Pinner South - where no babies have died. In other parts of London it is rare for babies to die

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, said: "This figure is obviously something we need to consider and we need to look at what we can do to reduce levels of infant mortality in the borough."

Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East said he will discuss the findings with Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Scientist Dr Dick Van Steenis and civil engineer Michael Ryan believe there is a correlation between the high death rate and the fact Harrow is downwind of a clinical waste incinerator in Colnbrook.

In the next fortnight they will publish a research paper linking a raft of health problems - including cancers and child deaths - to particles emitted by plants such the one in Colnbrook.

Dr Van Steenis said: "The regulations already in place do not take into account harmful PM2.5 particles emitted by the incinerators. These are small ones which get into the bodies of pregnant mothers and children and these plants do not have the equipment available to filter these and stop them from polluting the environment and people."

However Grundon, owners of the plant, and West London Waste Authority (WLWA), of which Harrow and Brent Council members, deny the accusations and say the building meets all environmental protection regulations.

Mike Nicholls, director of WLWA said: "In 2004 there was a major study carried out by DEFRA into the health affects of these types of plants. All waste sites have emissions of some kind but government has found no discernible risk to public health. Heathrow Airport's prevailing wind takes emissions from the area but that is not to say there is any impact on the community."

Dr Van Steenis fears the situation will get worse following the decision by Slough Council to allow Grundon, the owners of the incinerator to build an even bigger one on the site. He said: "The westerly wind will carry even more of these particles to Harrow and we will see health problems increase." Leader of Harrow Council, Councillor Chris Mote (Conservative) said: "The death of any child is tragic. However, I am not aware of any substantial medical evidence that links energy from waste to an increase in infant mortality. There are no municipal waste incinerators in Harrow and we do not currently burn any of our waste."

The Observer contacted Harrow PCT about the issue but nobody got back to the newspaper.

THE clinical waste incinerator in Colnbrook is already one of the biggest in Europe and is set to expand even more.

Grundon Waste Limited has operated on the site since 1990 but just over two years ago, in October 2004, Slough Council granted the company permission to build two larger incinerators on the land, despite public outcry.

The £100 million buildings will handle domestic, clinical and radioactive waste and are in the process of being constructed.

Dr Jerry Thompson, a spokesman for Slough Anti Incinerator Network (SAIN) said he was not surprised to hear of Dr Van Steenis's study. He has published an article for the British Society for Ecological Medicine discussing how incinerators affect health. He said: "There are increased reports of birth defects in particular around radioactive incinerators so this seems logical. However, I have not seen the paper, so my comments are rather general. These birth defects tend to follow particular patterns and neurological and cardiac defects are prevalent."

However Ruth Rolls, a spokeswoman for Grundon disputed the claims the incinerator is a major factor contributing to Harrow's high number of baby deaths. She said: "The technology we use is proven to be safe and is regularly monitored. The new incinerators will meet clinical and European standards, and we always done this. There is no consistent evidence these plants cause adverse health effects."

A spokeswoman from government body the Environment Agency said it was aware of the research but would not be able to comment on the paper until it had been published.

Dhruti Shah
Chief Reporter
Harrow Observer
020 8956 8200